FedEx Express and GM start first test of Fuel Cell Vehicle

FedEx Express and General Motors announced recently that both companies have officially launched the first test of a fuel cell vehicle in a commercial environment in Japan. The vehicle immediately earned the first commercial "green" license plate for a fuel cell vehicle in Japan.

Fed Ex and GM are collaborating on a one-year test program in which FedEx will operate GM’s HydroGen3 fuel cell vehicle on its regular delivery routes in the metropolitan area of Tokyo. GM will collect the data obtained to better understand how its fuel cell vehicles perform under demanding, real-world conditions like those FedEx faces daily in Tokyo.

"This is another key step toward true commercialization — when we sell large numbers of fuel cell vehicles to consumers at prices they can afford, and that also make financial sense for GM," said Larry Burns, GM vice president of research and development and planning. "It’s really important to get fuel cell vehicles on the road in competitive business environments like the ones FedEx works in on the streets of Tokyo. They run a very successful global operation that demands reliability and durability." Burns also said that GM expects to learn a great deal that will help in developing compelling, affordable fuel cell vehicles that customers will want to buy — and can afford to buy.

"I’m excited to announce the first non-governmental daily test of GM’s fuel cell vehicle in a commercial environment in Japan," said David J. Ross, North Pacific Region vice president for FedEx. "FedEx has long recognized effective environmental management as a corporate priority through our sustainable delivery initiatives. With the launch of this joint test program with General Motors, FedEx is again helping to lead the way in delivering cleaner air."

GM’s HydroGen3 is the first liquid hydrogen-fueled vehicle approved to be driven in public roads in Japan. Additionally, HydroGen3’s 400-kilometer driving range is the highest of any fuel cell vehicle approved for public roads in Japan.

The Zafira MPV-based HydroGen3 was launched in 2001 and is GM’s first entry into the recently announced Japan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Project, which is directed by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, trade and Industry. GM will submit data from the FedEx operations as part of its participation in this project.

"Japan is a key area for GM in developing and positioning fuel cells for commercialization," said Raymond Grigg, chairman and CEO, representative director, General Motors Japan, Ltd. "The launch with FedEx is yet another example of GM’s global leadership in a variety of fuel cell technologies."

GM also recently announced a partnership with Shell Oil to provide hydrogen refueling for a fleet of GM HydroGen3s in Washington D. C. And in May of this year, GM and Dow Chemical Company came to agreement on the world’s largest-ever fuel cell power deal.

GM’s global fleet of HydroGen3 vehicles boasts of significant advantages in packaging and technology that move GM closer to developing a production-ready fuel cell vehicle. The fuel cell propulsion system is integrated into one module, allowing the whole system to be installed as a single unit, using the same mounting points as a conventional engine. This frees up additional interior space, allowing for packaging similar to today’s production models. The interior of the GM HydroGen3 vehicle has been modified to allow for ample space to load packages for delivery.

Other important breakthroughs in the HydroGen3 include eliminating the need for a buffer battery, needed in previous generations to deal with specific peak-power demands, as well as developing an internal system for humidifying the fuel cell stack.

GM has approximately 600 people working on fuel cell technology at its three U. S. facilities in Honeoye Falls, New York, Warren, Michigan and Torrence California, as well as at its research facility in Mainz-Kastel, Germany, and offices in Tokyo.

General Motors, the world’s largest vehicle manufacturer, designs, builds and markets cars and trucks worldwide. It has been the global automotive sales leader since 1931. GM employs around 342,000 people around the world. More information on GM can be found at http://www.gm.com.

FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., connects areas that generate 90 percent of the world’s gross domestic product in one to three business days with door-to-door, customs-cleared service. The company’s unmatched air route authorities and infrastructure make it the world’s largest express transportation company, providing fast, reliable and time-definite transportation of more than 3.1 million items to 214 countries each working day. FedEx employs approximately 134,000 employees and has more than 48,000 drop-off locations, 643 aircraft and more than 43,000 vehicles in its integrated global network.